But in 2004, only three years later, the Pistons actually defeated the Lakers for the NBA title while the Magic finished with the worst record in the entire NBA.

But such is life in the NBA, where Magic Johnson won his first NBA title as a rookie, Larry Bird and Tim Duncan won their first rings in their second seasons and Shaq and Kobe went exactly four seasons together before claiming their first of three titles.

If it's going to work, then history says it's most likely going to work fast.